Three player chess game

ABSTRACT

A chess board game and set accommodates three players rather than the traditional two players, and includes three sets of contrasting game pieces movably disposed upon the surface of a game board subdivided into triangular shaped sections of contrasting appearance. The chess board game set includes a six-sided game board having a plurality of triangular-shaped game-piece movement sections displayed upon a top surface thereof The number and type of game pieces is modified to accommodate the optimal shape of the board, as play starts with the each of the three players pieces disposed in the first two rows adjacent to each of the three equal, but shorter sides of the game board. The other three sides of the game board are also of equal length, and interposed to alternate with the shorter side such that each short side is parallel to an opposing long side across the playing board. The King pieces of the opposing player may be taken or captured in place by being placed in checkmate. Upon capture of the first King, the remaining play pieces of that first losing participant revert to the capturing player for use against the remaining player.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a non-conventional chessboard and game, and more particularly pertains to a new 3-person chess board game for providing a more challenging chess game having three players rather than the traditional two players.

The use of a chess game adopted for three opposing players is known in the prior art. More specifically, known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 611,450; U.S. Pat. No. 1,373,448; U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,149; U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,237; U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,464; U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,759, U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,241; U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,488; U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,153; U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,871; U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,826; U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,748; U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,056; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 272,373 and United Kingdom Patent Application 2,214,092A. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the games disclosed by the aforementioned patents have a distracting complexity arising from at least one of the shape of the board, the number of players and their permissible moves.

It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a game board largely compatible with the standard rules and player moves for chess, but having three sides so that three players can compete.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for rules of play that enhance the challenge and strategy of three player chess games enabled by the inventive three sided chess board and the increased complexity of each player competing with two other players.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in prior art triangle chess games the present invention provides a new 3-person chess board game construction and accompanying rule to provide a more challenging chess game having three players rather than the traditional two players.

In several aspects the 3-person chess board game according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a more challenging chess game having three players rather than the traditional two players.

In the present invention, the first object is achieved by providing a chess board having a total of six sides subdivided by two sets of three side, each set being distinguished by all three sides being of equal length, the first set being shorter than the second set. Each of the short sides is interposed between two adjacent longer sides, each short side is also parallel to a third long side opposite the game board. The game board is filled by plurality of triangular-shaped game-piece movement sections displayed upon a top surface of the game board; and is deployed as a game set that includes three set of contrasting colored game pieces movably disposed upon the six-sided game board.

At the initiation of play, the three sets of game pieces are set up to occupy the first two rows adjacent the short sides of the board. In a preferred embodiment further described below, all nine spaces in the second row are occupied by pawns, and the seven spaces in the first row, at the edge of the board, are occupied by the King, the Queen, a single Bishop, two Knights and two Castles.

A second aspect of the invention is characterized in that play follows a “first mate” rule, in that capturing the first King results in the taking of his army, the playing pieces that remain on the board, as a prize, whereas whoever takes the second King, wins the game.

The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a new 3-person chess board game according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the chessboard of FIG. 1 with the playing pieces disposed in the first and second row according to novel rules of play.

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of alternative moves made by a pawn game piece of the present invention from the initial position in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B is a schematic view of alternative moves made by a pawn game piece of the present invention from any position on the game board of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of moves made by a knight game piece of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of moves made by a rook game piece of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of moves made by a bishop game piece of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of moves made by a queen game piece of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of moves made by a king game piece of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a 3-player chessboard 100 in accordance with the present invention. The novel chessboard 100 of the instant invention is generally of a hexagon shape, but with unequal sides. Specifically, the shape is akin to a triangle that has been truncated on each of its three corners. The three shorter sides 110, 120 and 130 are of equal length and contain the first two rows in which playing pieces are initially disposed at the start of play. Each of the triangular positions on the playing board is optionally referenced by a combination of a letter, A to Q, and a number, 1 to 9. The remaining three sides 115, 125 and 135 are of equal length with respect to each other, but longer than sides 110, 120 and 130 wherein the play pieces are initially disposed. Each of the player pieces on the board is a triangle. Triangular play positions with adjacent sides are of two contrasting colors, forming the triangular equivalent of a “checkerboard” pattern, with 7 spaces in the 1^(st) row, 9 spaces in the second row 2^(nd) and 9 rows across the board.

In FIG. 2, the position of the playing pieces in the first two rows is illustrated in detail. It should first be noted, that as compared to conventional chess, each of the three players only has one bishop. As a result of the inventive games theme of minimizing the differences of player moves between conventional chess, in which each player position on the board is a square, would result in the Bishop pieces crossing or occupying the same triangular position, this is avoiding by allocating only a single Bishop to each player. Similarly, the board shape and rules of play favor each player having an extra Pawn, as compared to conventional chess.

It should also be appreciated that FIG. 1 represents a preferred, rather than a sole embodiment of the invention, as the novel rules of play further described below are applicable to a chessboard of triangular spaces with 8, 9 or 10 rows across with seven spaces in the first row at the edge of the board sides used for setting up the play pieces at the initiation of the game.

The objective of the game is to checkmate the last remaining of the two opposing Kings. Thus, all three opposing players replay any stalemate or draw. As opposed to winning conventional or regular chess by putting the player in checkmate, a novel aspect of the instant invention is the “First Mate Rule”, in which the first King placed in checkmate is not immediately removed from the board, but rather immobilized. Thus when any one of the three Kings in play is placed in checkmate, and thus trapped or immobilized, this forces the player represented by the trapped King to remove one of his own pieces (the king last) at each of the players consecutive turns following the other two player's normal turns until either, i) the King is captured/removed or ii) can escape check, for example by the movement of its own or an opposing piece that blocks it's escape route. However, if the opposing player, who places the King in checkmate, decides to capture it, then it is removed from play forcing the corresponding player out of the game. The pieces of the removed Kings color or “Army” that remain on the board revert to the player that takes the King.

Alternatively, another player may deliberately permit the King captured in the checkmate position to re-enter the game, to either place the other opposing King in checkmate, or might do so after the players force is sufficiently weakened so that they are unlikely to be a direct threat, but whose continued play would further hinder the other opposing King.

Having set forth the general objectives of the game and potential play strategies, thus permissible movements of each play piece will now be described. FIGS. 3 to 8 only illustrate portions of the game board of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 sufficient to explain the movements and captures rule for each of the various play pieces. Broken lines at the edges of the triangular spaces in these figures indicate that they are at some position within the board that is not at the board edge. Potential moves of players are represented by lines emanating from the spaceS occupied by the subject piece. When the line terminates in an arrow, the piece may be moved continuously until it is blocked by another piece belonging to the same player, or it captures an opposing players playing piece. When the line terminates in a circle, the player must stop when reaching the playing space, which contains the circle. In such a case, it may only take an opposing piece lying within the space indicated by the circle.

The Pawn, shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, has two alternative moves from its initial position in the first row, which it occupies at start of play; being either of one or two spaces forward, as indicated by FIG. 3A. At other than the pawns initial playing position, shown in FIG. 3B, the Pawn can only move one position forward, and takes opposing players on the diagonal move of one space, as indicated by the “X” mark at the end of the line.

In a preferred embodiment of the game, the Pawn is also capable of performing the Enpassant move of conventional chess. The Enpassant move is available to your Pawn in an opposing player's fourth row, If his pawn moves two spaces forward passing through your Pawn's capture zone. However, on the next turn only, you may move to that passed capture zone and remove his Pawn.

Pawns that reach the last or longer rows at the opposite side of the board are exchanged for any piece the player chooses, other than a King in the case of Pawn that was converted to the player that captured the first King. However, in the more preferred embodiment of the playing rules or methods, captured Pawns are limited to movement in the same direction as in the initiation of play.

As shown in FIG. 4, the Knight may move or capture to any of twelve alternative triangular positions by making two moves forward, followed by one move to the left or right of the direction of the first two moves. In making the two moves forward the Knight passes through either one of the six vertexes of the triangle space it initially occupies, or one of the three sides As in conventional chess, the Knight may jump or leap over any pieces to make this move, but only captures pieces in the spaces wherein the lines indicating the move terminate in a circle.

As shown in FIG. 6, the Bishop may move in any of the six directions as shown by the lines terminating in arrows, by passing in alternation between the faces and corners of each of the triangular spaces it traverses. The extent of movement is limited only by the dimensions of the board, the presence of opposing players, that are thus optionally captured, or the players other game pieces.

In contrast, the Rook, shown in FIG. 5 moves and captures by moving in any of six directions of the arrows, but in contrast to the Bishop, passing only through the faces of the triangular spaces it traverses during the move. The extent of movement is limited only by the dimensions of the board, the presence of opposing players, that are thus optionally captured, or the players other game pieces.

The Queen may optionally move according to either of the Bishop or the Rook, as shown in FIG. 7, and thus moves and captures in any of the twelve directions of the arrows. The extent of movement is limited only by the dimensions of the board, the presence of opposing players, that are thus optionally captured, or the players other game pieces, except when castling the King moves 2 spaces with the same restriction as in conventional chess.

Finally, the movements available to the King are illustrated in FIG. 8. The King may only move one space in any of the six directions shown by the lines terminating in a circle. That is, the King may move through either the vertex or side of the triangle to the next adjacent triangular space.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A chessboard having six sides and adopted for competitive play between three players in which three shorts sides are defined by seven adjacent triangular spaces, and three long sides of 13 triangular spaces is interposed between each of said three short sides:
 2. A 3-person chess board game consisting of: a) a six sided game board having three short sides of equal length interposed between each of three longer sides of equal length in which each short side is parallel to a long side on the opposite side of said board, the board further comprising a plurality of triangular-shaped game-piece movement sections displayed upon a top surface of said game board; and b) game pieces movably disposed upon said six sided game board, said game pieces include three sets of contrasting appearance, i) each of said sets including nine pawns, two knights, one bishop, one queen, two rooks, and one king.
 3. A 3-person chess board game as described in claim 2, wherein said six sided game board includes three game-piece starting position areas disposed in each of said three short sides thereof, each of said game-piece starting position areas including sixteen game-piece movement sections which are arranged in two rows.
 4. A 3-person chess board game as described in claim 3, wherein said two rows of each of said game-piece starting position areas include a first row having seven of said game-piece movement sections disposed at a short side of said game board and also include a second row adjacent to and parallel to said first row having nine of said game-piece movement sections.
 5. A 3-person chess board game as described in claim 2, wherein each of said sets of game pieces is set up upon a respective said game-piece starting position area with said king, said queen, said bishop, said knights, said rooks being movably disposed upon said first row and with said pawns being movably disposed upon said second row.
 6. A 3-person chess board game consisting of: a) a six sided game board having a plurality of triangle shaped game-piece movement sections displayed upon a top surface of said six sided game board, said six sided game board including; i) three game-piece starting position areas disposed in corners thereof, each of said game-piece starting position areas including sixteen game-piece movement sections which are arranged in two rows, each of said two rows of each of said game-piece starting position areas including; (1) a first row having one of seven of said game-piece movement sections disposed at a respective side of said six sided game board, and also including, (2) a second row having nine of said game-piece movement sections; and b) game pieces movably disposed upon said six sided game board, said game pieces including, i) three sets of said game pieces with each said set including nine pawns, two knights, one bishop, one queen, two rooks, and one king, ii) each of said sets of game pieces being set up upon a respective said game-piece starting position area with, (1) said king, queen, bishop, knights and rooks being movably disposed upon said first row, and with (2) said pawn being movably disposed upon said second row each of said pawns being adapted to move toward an opposite side of said six sided game board and to move initially upon one or two of said game-piece movement sections and upon said game-piece movement sections one at a time thereafter, each of said pawns capable of diagonally capturing said game pieces of the other players, (3) each of said bishop being adapted to move upon any number of unoccupied said game-piece movement sections in a direction perpendicular to any said side of said six sided game board, (4) each of said knights being adapted to move upon two of said game-piece movement sections in a direction perpendicular to any said side of said six sided game board, and being adapted to move upon one of said game-piece movement sections at right angles to said perpendicular direction, and being adapted to jump over one's other said game pieces, (5) each of said rooks being adapted to move upon any number of unoccupied said game-piece movement sections in a direction parallel to any side of said game board, (6) each said queen being adapted to move upon any number of unoccupied said game-piece movement sections in a direction either parallel or perpendicular to any said side of said game board, (7) each said king being adapted to move in any direction upon said game-piece movement sections one at a time, and is adapted to move upon two unoccupied said game-piece movement sections in a direction parallel to any side of said game board.
 7. A method of playing a 3-person chess board game comprising: a) providing a six sided game board having a plurality of triangle-shaped game-piece movement sections displayed upon a top surface of said six sided game board and game pieces, said game pieces including; i) three sets of said game pieces, with each said set including ii) nine pawns, two knights, one bishop, one queen, two rooks, and one king, iii) said six sided game board including three game-piece starting position areas disposed on each of three sides of equal length of said game board, each of said game-piece starting position areas including sixteen game-piece movement sections which are arranged in two rows, said two rows of each of said game-piece starting position areas including a first row having seven of said game-piece movement sections disposed at the side of said six sided game board, and also including a second row having nine of said game-piece movement sections; b) setting each of said sets of game pieces upon a respective said game-piece starting position area with said king, said queen, said bishop, said knights and said rooks being movably disposed upon said first row and with said pawns being movably disposed upon said second row; c) moving each of said pawns toward an opposite side of said six sided game board and initially onto one or two of said game-piece movement sections and onto one of said game-piece movement sections one at a time thereafter; diagonally capturing said game pieces of the other players by said pawns; d) moving said bishop onto any number of unoccupied said game-piece movement sections during a singular move in a direction perpendicular to any side of said six sided game board; e) moving said knights onto two of said game-piece movement sections during a singular move in a direction perpendicular to any said side of said six sided game board and moving said knights onto one of said game-piece movement sections during a singular move at right angles to said perpendicular direction wherein said knights may pass over another player's said game pieces; f) moving said rooks onto any number of unoccupied said game-piece movement sections during a singular move in a direction parallel to any side of said game board; g) moving said queens onto any number of unoccupied said game-piece movement sections during a singular move in a direction either parallel or perpendicular to any said side of said game board; and h) moving said kings in any direction onto said game-piece movement sections one at a time, and moving said kings onto two unoccupied said game-piece movement sections during a singular move in a direction parallel to any side of said game board.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising capturing an opposing players pieces by taking turns among three players, wherein a player captures another players game piece by moving it's own player onto a game -piece movement section occupied by another players.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising; a) causing another player to lose a consecutive turn by placing one or more game pieces in locations causing the King piece of the said another player to be at the risk of immediate capture independent of any permissible movement at the players next turn. b) removing, by the other player on the next available turn, a play piece from the game board until that player is able to move the King to a position in which it is not at risk of immediate capture by an opposing player.
 10. The method of claim 7 further comprising: defeating at least one opposing player by capturing the King of the opposing player.
 11. The method of claim 7 further comprising: winning the game by capturing the King of the remaining opposing player.
 12. The method of claim 7 further comprising; a) capturing the King of a first opposing player, b) removing said captured King from the game board; c) moving the play pieces of the captured King that have remained on the playing board against the remaining player. 